MPs accuse tech giants of fuelling an ‘e-waste tsunami’ by designing products with a short shelf life
- MPs are calling for a change in the law to stop ‘planned obsolescence’ by firms
- Apple, Amazon and others also criticised for failing to offer accessibly recycling
- The attack comes from MPs on the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC)
- They say tech giants are contributing 155,000 tonnes of waste electricals yearly
Apple and other tech giants have been accused of fuelling an ‘e-waste tsunami’ by designing products with a short shelf life.
MPs say the companies are contributing to 155,000 tons of waste electricals being sent to landfill or burned every year.
In a report, they say tech firms had been found to glue and solder together components making any repairs by consumers impossible.
Today, MPs are calling for a change in the law to stop manufacturers from deliberately making products that have ‘planned obsolescence’ in an attempt to stop a tech waste tsunami
And repair charges offered by firms ‘can be so expensive it is more economical to replace the item completely,’ MPs said.
The environmental audit committee, which has previously challenged fast fashion retailers for generating huge amounts of waste, said the UN has warned of an ‘e-waste tsunami’.
It said it is time for ministers to support a new culture of reusing and repairing items. This could be done through enshrining the right to have items repaired in law and a cut in VAT on repair services, as is the case in many EU countries.
Bricks and mortar electrical stores are legally required to offer collection and recycling of tech products. Currys PC World recycles over 65,000 tons of waste electronics each year. MPs say tech giants should be required to offer the same level of recycling.
An Apple spokesman said: ‘We were disappointed with the report, which does not reflect our efforts to conserve resources and protect the planet.
‘There are more options for customers to trade in, recycle and get safe, quality repairs than ever before.’
Pictured: Shoppers queue to get into an apple store in London earlier in November